As season concludes, Canadians look back on positive developments in speed

3 years ago

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SR Staff Report

The speed events at the FIS Alpine World Cup Finals have finished, and the Canadian team has made an impression. Jack Crawford (Toronto, ON) qualified and competed in both the downhill and super-G events, placing seventh and fifth, respectively. The 24-year-old racer has had a breakout season this year, leading a charging men’s team through the season, Crawford raced to a bronze medal in alpine combined at the Olympic Winter Games, with his first World Cup podium coming shortly after in Kvitfjell, where he placed second in the super-G. With these results and consistently finding top 10 results, Crawford finished the 2021-2022 season ranked 16th in the overall downhill standings and fifth in super-G, an achievement not matched since Dustin Cook in 2015.

“I’m stoked to be at such a high level in ski racing, it’s been a long-time dream of mine to be where I am now,” says Crawford. “I’m actually close to competing for overall titles, I know I’m not quite there yet but it’s been my dream and to have the consistency I do now is a huge step toward achieving that dream in the future.”

The Canadian men’s team has been building for years, and these results come as no surprise to head coach Mark Tilston.

“It’s the result of years of hard work, perseverance, dedication,” says Tilston. “It’s been a group that have been with Johnny [Kucera] and Chris [Powers] for much of their journeys. World class results come from hard work and a world class team. It’s taken a team to help them make these performances.”

Building on the results of this season is next on the list for Crawford, who continues to strive for more.

“I’ve had to look a little outside of the box to find those tenths and hundredths that you find at this level because you’re not making those full-second gains anymore,” adds Crawford. “I want to thank the people that have been around me this year, my coaching staff, friends and family, I couldn’t be where I am now without them.”

Release courtesy of Alpine Canada.